INQUESTS HEAR FORENSIC DETAIL ABOUT BOMB
Inquest hear forensic detail about bomb
Bombers could have given a two hour warning
THE bombers responsible for the carnage in Omagh's Market Street two years ago could easily have given two hours warning before the device exploded, it was revealed this week.
Denis McAuley, a senior scientific officer at the Forensic Science Agency described how the timer attached to the bomb could have been primed to give a much longer warning before the explosion was set off.
And Coroner John Leckey also heard that those responsible had fitted a warning light as a safety measure in case those planting it would have blown themselves up.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the blast, said it was 'unbelievable' that the bombers would look after their own interests while at the same time ignoring the safety of women and children.
"I can't understand why people cannot accept the fact that these people set out with murder in their hearts," he said.
Mr McAuley estimated the device had contained up to 440 lbs of homemade explosives and was probably contained in the boot of the Vauxhall Cavalier, registration number MDZ 5211.
He showed photographs of various parts of the bomb which had been recovered from the scene. Some had been found among the 13 skips, 17 wheelie bins and 11 flip top bins of debris which had been removed from the bomb site and sifted through by RUC officers and members of the Metropolitan Police.
During his testimony, the forensic expert produced a timer similar to the one used by the bombers which had failed to explode in Belfast. The unit was contained in a plastic Addis lunchbox with a blue lid which had its identification marks burned off.
Inside were a countdown timing device and two metal toggle switches. These items, which protruded from the base of the box, were marked A, B and C.
Mr McCauley said he believed this timer may have been placed either on the floor of the vehicle or on the back seat. Wires would have led to the boot of the car.
The bomb itself was made up of amonium nitrate, fertiliser and sugar.
A piece of scaffolding measuring up to three feet long acted as a booster unit. It was packed with explosives and wrapped in tape and was attached to the device. This item would have been drilled with holes in order that it could fragment easier when exploded. Its purpose was to ensure that the main charge of the explosive would detonate, Mr McAuley explained.
Producing an eight-inch sliver of metal recovered from the scene, the scientific officer said shrapnel from the bomb had been found 300 metres away in the grounds of Scotts Mill, just off the Gortin Road. Other fragments were found 200m from the scene at Campsie Avenue and Campsie Crescent.
In order to prime the bomb, the bombers would have had to switch on the timer, which could be set for up to two hours, and then flick switches B and C in order, Mr McAuley said.
But if they mistakenly set the timer and flicked switch B while the timer was still at zero, a red LED light would come on warning them that if they hit the switch C, the device would immediately explode.
The witness said one of the two toggle switches were among the first item of significance found at the scene. It was discovered approximately 20 metres from the crater during a search the morning after the blast.
He had earlier briefed officers involved in a sweep of the area of the items which may be of crucial value in the investigation.
During a closer inspection of the area on the Monday morning, the blue lid of the lunchbox was recovered.
Mr McAuley said he could not understand why the bomb-maker had erased the Addis marking on this item. "It would not hide or conceal where this item was purchased," he added.
The timer unit was recovered from one of the skips removed from the scene, while other items salvaged for forensic examination included a snapon battery connector of the type used to hold four 1.5v batteries.
In answer to a query from Coroner John Leckey, Mr McAuley explained that those standing close to the bomb would have suffered severe burns. This was caused by a flash from the explosion which was not visible from a distance away as it happened so quickly.
The fuel tank of the vehicle also contributed to the overall fireball at the seat of the explosion, he explained.
People at close quarters to the device received severe burns, while fragmentation from the vehicle and the booster tube killed many of those in the vicinity, he added.
During 1998, 11 other identical timer power units, similar to the Omagh one, were used in other attacks. Fragments of components recovered from three explosions bore similarities to those used in the Market Street device.
When quizzed by the Coroner whether he would have known the terrorist grouping responsible or whether he could identify the bomb-maker, Mr McAuley said the device was typical of a dissident Republican grouping.
However, he could not say for certain whether it bore the hallmarks of the Real IRA.
"No type of power unit like that has been used by PIRA [Provisional IRA] that I'm aware of," he added.
In response to a question from Michael Mansfield QC, the witness said ideally people should have been moved as far away from the scene as possible and out of sight of the bomb. The safest place would have been behind buildings, although the danger from flying glass would have to be taken into consideration, he said.
However, the possibility of secondary devices being planted in the vicinity would also have to be calculated.
His department would not have been involved in advising police on cordon distances or evacuation areas, that was up to the military, Mr McAuley added.
Bombers could have given a two hour warning
THE bombers responsible for the carnage in Omagh's Market Street two years ago could easily have given two hours warning before the device exploded, it was revealed this week.
Denis McAuley, a senior scientific officer at the Forensic Science Agency described how the timer attached to the bomb could have been primed to give a much longer warning before the explosion was set off.
And Coroner John Leckey also heard that those responsible had fitted a warning light as a safety measure in case those planting it would have blown themselves up.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the blast, said it was 'unbelievable' that the bombers would look after their own interests while at the same time ignoring the safety of women and children.
"I can't understand why people cannot accept the fact that these people set out with murder in their hearts," he said.
Mr McAuley estimated the device had contained up to 440 lbs of homemade explosives and was probably contained in the boot of the Vauxhall Cavalier, registration number MDZ 5211.
He showed photographs of various parts of the bomb which had been recovered from the scene. Some had been found among the 13 skips, 17 wheelie bins and 11 flip top bins of debris which had been removed from the bomb site and sifted through by RUC officers and members of the Metropolitan Police.
During his testimony, the forensic expert produced a timer similar to the one used by the bombers which had failed to explode in Belfast. The unit was contained in a plastic Addis lunchbox with a blue lid which had its identification marks burned off.
Inside were a countdown timing device and two metal toggle switches. These items, which protruded from the base of the box, were marked A, B and C.
Mr McCauley said he believed this timer may have been placed either on the floor of the vehicle or on the back seat. Wires would have led to the boot of the car.
The bomb itself was made up of amonium nitrate, fertiliser and sugar.
A piece of scaffolding measuring up to three feet long acted as a booster unit. It was packed with explosives and wrapped in tape and was attached to the device. This item would have been drilled with holes in order that it could fragment easier when exploded. Its purpose was to ensure that the main charge of the explosive would detonate, Mr McAuley explained.
Producing an eight-inch sliver of metal recovered from the scene, the scientific officer said shrapnel from the bomb had been found 300 metres away in the grounds of Scotts Mill, just off the Gortin Road. Other fragments were found 200m from the scene at Campsie Avenue and Campsie Crescent.
In order to prime the bomb, the bombers would have had to switch on the timer, which could be set for up to two hours, and then flick switches B and C in order, Mr McAuley said.
But if they mistakenly set the timer and flicked switch B while the timer was still at zero, a red LED light would come on warning them that if they hit the switch C, the device would immediately explode.
The witness said one of the two toggle switches were among the first item of significance found at the scene. It was discovered approximately 20 metres from the crater during a search the morning after the blast.
He had earlier briefed officers involved in a sweep of the area of the items which may be of crucial value in the investigation.
During a closer inspection of the area on the Monday morning, the blue lid of the lunchbox was recovered.
Mr McAuley said he could not understand why the bomb-maker had erased the Addis marking on this item. "It would not hide or conceal where this item was purchased," he added.
The timer unit was recovered from one of the skips removed from the scene, while other items salvaged for forensic examination included a snapon battery connector of the type used to hold four 1.5v batteries.
In answer to a query from Coroner John Leckey, Mr McAuley explained that those standing close to the bomb would have suffered severe burns. This was caused by a flash from the explosion which was not visible from a distance away as it happened so quickly.
The fuel tank of the vehicle also contributed to the overall fireball at the seat of the explosion, he explained.
People at close quarters to the device received severe burns, while fragmentation from the vehicle and the booster tube killed many of those in the vicinity, he added.
During 1998, 11 other identical timer power units, similar to the Omagh one, were used in other attacks. Fragments of components recovered from three explosions bore similarities to those used in the Market Street device.
When quizzed by the Coroner whether he would have known the terrorist grouping responsible or whether he could identify the bomb-maker, Mr McAuley said the device was typical of a dissident Republican grouping.
However, he could not say for certain whether it bore the hallmarks of the Real IRA.
"No type of power unit like that has been used by PIRA [Provisional IRA] that I'm aware of," he added.
In response to a question from Michael Mansfield QC, the witness said ideally people should have been moved as far away from the scene as possible and out of sight of the bomb. The safest place would have been behind buildings, although the danger from flying glass would have to be taken into consideration, he said.
However, the possibility of secondary devices being planted in the vicinity would also have to be calculated.
His department would not have been involved in advising police on cordon distances or evacuation areas, that was up to the military, Mr McAuley added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1476
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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